Qulipta

Q: How do Ubrelvy, Qulipta and Nurtec compare for migraines?

Ubrelvy, Qulipta and Nurtec ODT are all medicines used by adults for migraines. They are all from the same group of medicines often called gepants but their full name is calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist.

Q: Does Qulipta cause weight loss?

You may lose some weight if you are taking Qulipta. Studies in over 2,600 patients have shown that 3.2% to 5.3% of patients taking Qulipta lost at least 7% of their body weight, compared to 2.5% of those taking an inactive pill (placebo). As an example, a 7% weight loss in someone who weighs 150 lbs (68 kg) is 10.5 lbs (5.3 kg).

Q: How long does Qulipta take to work?

Qulipta can begin working on the first day of treatment to help prevent your episodic migraine headaches. Researchers observed that 88% (185 / 211) patients did not have a migraine the day after taking a Qulipta 60 mg dose, compared to 75% (151 / 202) taking an inactive placebo pill.

Q: Does Qulipta (atogepant) cause hair loss?

No, Qulipta (generic name: atogepant) did not lead to hair loss (alopecia) during clinical trials submitted for FDA-approval. Qulipta is an oral CGRP receptor antagonist (gepant) used to help prevent migraine headache pain. Hair loss is not listed as a side effect in its FDA-approved product label.

Q: When is the best time of the day to take Qulipta?

Take your prescribed dose each day at about the same time, with or without food. Some people feel tired or sleepy when taking Qulipta. If this occurs, ask your healthcare provider if you can take your dose at bedtime. If you feel nauseous, take your daily dose at mealtime.

Q: How well does Qulipta work for migraine?

Qulipta, a preventive migraine treatment, has been shown in studies to lead to a 54% reduction in monthly migraine days in patients with episodic migraine (a 4.2-day reduction) and a 36% reduction in patients with chronic migraine headaches (6.9-day reduction).

Q: How does Qulipta work?

Qulipta works by blocking a key protein in your body called calcitonin-related gene peptide, or CGRP, to help prevent migraine headaches and the transmission of pain. Qulipta belongs to the gepant class of CGRP receptor antagonists and is intended for oral administration.

Pronunciation: kew-LIP-tah
Generic name: atogepant
Dosage form: oral tablet
Drug class: CGRP inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 20, 2024.

What is Qulipta?

Qulipta is an oral prescription medicine used in adults to help prevent episodic and chronic migraine headaches (severe, throbbing headaches that sometimes are accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to sound or light).

Qulipta (atogepant) belongs to a class of medications called calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRP) antagonists. CGRP is a protein found in the brain and nervous system that is thought to contribute to the pain, inflammation, and vasodilation associated with migraine attacks.

Qulipta works by blocking the action of the CGRP protein in the body. This helps prevent migraine headaches.

Qulipta gained FDA approval on September 28, 2021. There is no Qulipta generic available.

Qulipta side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Qulipta such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Common Qulipta side effects may include:

nausea
constipation
feeling tired
weight loss.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings

You should not take Qulipta if you are allergic to atogepant, Qulipta, or any of the inactive ingredients in the

Take Qulipta as directed. Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, Teril, others), clarithromycin, cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), efavirenz (Sustiva, in Atripla, in Symfi), etravirine (Intelence), itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura), ketoconazole, phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane).

Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with atogepant, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.

Also, tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.

Before taking this medicine

To make sure Qulipta is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis)
liver disease
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

Qulipta is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Pregnancy

In animal studies, atogepant caused pregnancy problems such as low birth weight or birth defects. It is not known if these effects could occur in humans. Ask your doctor about the risk.

Having migraine headaches during pregnancy may increase the risk of dangerously high blood pressure that can lead to medical problems in both mother and baby. The benefit of preventing migraines may outweigh any risk. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

Breastfeeding

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine.

How should I take Qulipta?

Take Qulipta exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Qulipta is usually taken 1 time daily.
The dosage of Qulipta depends on what other medications you are currently taking.

You may take Qulipta with or without food.

Qulipta dosing information

Usual Qulipta Adult Dose for Episodic Migraine Prophylaxis:

Qulipta 10 mg, 30 mg, or 60 mg orally once a day.

Use: For the preventative treatment of episodic migraine.

Usual Qulipta Adult Dose for Chronic Migraine Prophylaxis:

Qulipta 60 mg orally once a day.

Use: For the preventative treatment of chronic migraine.

Qulipta dosage adjustments

Dosage adjustments are needed when Qulipta is taken with certain other medications and for people with severe kidney disease. The table below outlines the recommended Qulipta dosing modifications for drug interactions and specific populations.

Interacting Drug or Condition	Recommended Episodic Migraine Once Daily Dosage	Recommended Chronic Migraine Once Daily Dosage
Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors (eg, itraconazole, erythromycin)	10mg	Avoid use
Strong, Moderate, or Weak CYP3A4 Inducers (eg, rifampicin)	30 mg or 60 mg	Avoid use
OATP Inhibitors (eg, cyclosporine, gemfibrozil)	10 mg or 60 mg	30 mg
Severe Renal Impairment and End-Stage Renal Disease (CLcr <30 mL/min)	10 mg	Avoid use

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking Qulipta?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What other drugs will affect Qulipta?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect atogepant, especially:

cyclosporine;
St. John's wort;
an antibiotic such as clarithromycin or rifampin;
antifungal medicine such as itraconazole or ketoconazole;
antiviral medicine to treat HIV, such as efavirenz or etravirine; or
seizure medicine such as carbamazepine or phenytoin.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect atogepant. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Qulipta ingredients

Active ingredient: atogepant
Inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone vinyl acetate copolymer, sodium chloride, sodium stearyl fumarate, and vitamin E polyethylene glycol succinate.

Qulipta is supplied as 10 mg, 30 mg, and 60 mg tablets.

Storage

Store Qulipta at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Who makes Qulipta?

Forest Laboratories Ireland Ltd manufactures Qulipta for AbbVie Inc.

Popular FAQ

How do Ubrelvy, Qulipta and Nurtec compare for migraines?

Ubrelvy, Qulipta and Nurtec ODT are all medicines used by adults for migraines. They are all from the same group of medicines often called gepants but their full name is calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist. Continue reading

Does Qulipta cause weight loss?

You may lose some weight if you are taking Qulipta. Studies in over 2,600 patients have shown that 3.2% to 5.3% of patients taking Qulipta lost at least 7% of their body weight, compared to 2.5% of those taking an inactive pill (placebo). As an example, a 7% weight loss in someone who weighs 150 lbs (68 kg) is 10.5 lbs (5.3 kg). Continue reading

How long does Qulipta take to work?

Qulipta can begin working on the first day of treatment to help prevent your episodic migraine headaches. Researchers observed that 88% (185 / 211) patients did not have a migraine the day after taking a Qulipta 60 mg dose, compared to 75% (151 / 202) taking an inactive placebo pill. Continue reading

Does Qulipta (atogepant) cause hair loss?

No, Qulipta (generic name: atogepant) did not lead to hair loss (alopecia) during clinical trials submitted for FDA-approval. Qulipta is an oral CGRP receptor antagonist (gepant) used to help prevent migraine headache pain. Hair loss is not listed as a side effect in its FDA-approved product label. Continue reading

When is the best time of the day to take Qulipta?

Take your prescribed dose each day at about the same time, with or without food. Some people feel tired or sleepy when taking Qulipta. If this occurs, ask your healthcare provider if you can take your dose at bedtime. If you feel nauseous, take your daily dose at mealtime. Continue reading

How well does Qulipta work for migraine?

Qulipta, a preventive migraine treatment, has been shown in studies to lead to a 54% reduction in monthly migraine days in patients with episodic migraine (a 4.2-day reduction) and a 36% reduction in patients with chronic migraine headaches (6.9-day reduction). Continue reading

How does Qulipta work?

Qulipta works by blocking a key protein in your body called calcitonin-related gene peptide, or CGRP, to help prevent migraine headaches and the transmission of pain. Qulipta belongs to the gepant class of CGRP receptor antagonists and is intended for oral administration. Continue reading